Exchequer to totally fund Early Retirement Scheme for dependents

THE Exchequer has taken over funding of pensions for eligible dependents of deceased participants in the early retirement scheme for farmers.

Since the first EU scheme of early retirement from farming was introduced in 1994, 50% co-funded by the EU, the Department of Agriculture continued to pay the pension to dependents of participants who died before the 10-year pension period had elapsed.

However, the European Commission ruled in 2010 that this practice was not compatible with regul-ations, and processing was suspended.